The New York Folklore Society held a very successful and important Forum designed to bring academic and public sector folklorists together for active dialogue in two topic areas related to the future of the field: a) increasing public sector/academic collaboration and b) strengthening/re-establishing folklore’s academic foundation in New York State. We envisioned this Forum as the beginning of a discussion, with working sessions that allow us to generate resolutions toward shared action. Organized with the assistance of Eileen Condon, the forum was an assembling of individuals interested in raising the profile of the field of folklore and giving support to university-based folklore programs. The forum resulted in a plan of action.

Leading folklorists working in academe and the public sector in New York offered mini-presentations to kick off each working session, offering constructive insights and preliminary suggestions for action in these areas. Invited speakers included: